Geoffs Genealogy Update 8 May 2013

Wednesday May 8th, 2013 | Geoff

I’m a bit late with this month’s update because we have been away for a few days’ break in the sunshine.

Yes, you did read that correctly. The weather in England and Wales over the bank holiday weekend was lovely, giving rise to hopes that we may actually have a summer this year! I’m particularly looking forward to the Ashes cricket test series in July & August, and hoping that the Australians bring us a bit of their weather.

It has to be said, though, that our weather has now reverted to type, and we are currently “enjoying” colder, damper days.

Unfortunately, during April we had to cancel the reunion of John Bankes’ descendants that we had planned for 8 June. This was because it became apparent that, in spite of our best efforts, there were simply not enough people committed to coming to make the event viable.

We had been looking forward very much to the reunion, and put off the decision as long as we could, but in the end we really had no choice. We apologise to those people who had booked to come to the event, and have refunded all the monies that had been paid to us.

It has been suggested to us that maybe we will try to run another reunion at some future time, but at this stage we cannot say whether or not that is likely.

During May I have spent most of my available time researching the family of David Price (1774-1840), and his descendants, with some success. I started this piece of research in preparation for the reunion, as quite a number of the people who had booked to come are Bankes descendants on the Welsh branch, and I thought the results may interest them.

As far as David Price is concerned I only managed to add a little to what we already knew. He was born in Cardiganshire, but by the time he was 19 years old he was apprenticed to a certain Thomas Davis, Haberdasher of London. On completing his apprenticeship he became a freeman of the Haberdashers’ Company, and shortly afterwards was recorded as a Cheesemonger in the trading area of London known as the Steelyard – on the site of the present day Cannon Street Station. He seems to have enjoyed a successful business career, remaining in business at this site for the rest of his life. In later records he was recorded as a Warehouse Keeper and a Wool Merchant.

After his death, when his estate was being sold, following notice appeared in the London Standard newspaper dated 29 July 1843, from which we learn that David owned at least one other London warehouse :

“A VERY IMPORTANT FREEHOLD
ESTATE, situate on the west side of Seething-lane, in the Parish of St. Olave, Hart-street, in the City of London, consisting of substantial brick-built warehouses, viz, two stacks of warehouses of five floors each, from 8 feet to 16 feet in height, having a frontage of upwards of 120 feet to Seething-lane; of the whole of which possession will be given.
Also, extensive vaults under the warehouses, which are let to yearly tenants at 225l. per annum.To be viewed by leave of the tenants.”

David was married in 1808, to Sarah Sharpe (c1770 – 1835), who came from a prosperous London family. The couple lived in Dowgate, London – not far from David’s workplace – and had six children – 4 girls and 2 boys – between 1802 and 1811.

David Price served on the Court of Assistants of the Haberdashers’ Company in 1830, and for many years played a part in the administration of the City of London, serving as an elected member of the Common Council. I am lucky enough to have a copy of a silhouette of David, which I wrote about in a previous blog entry, dated 1 April 2012.

David Price died in March 1840 in London, and his death was marked by the following resolution of the Common Council, published in The Standard newspaper of 18 March 1840:

“….. this Wardmote cannot separate without lamenting the decease of the late Mr. David Price Esq., many years one of the Common Councilmen of this Ward, and for some years the Alderman’s Deputy: and whose long services to the Ward must be highly appreciated by the inhabitants, who now, in Wardmote assembled, beg to condole with his family on the loss they have sustained.

That a copy of the aforegoing Resolution be fairly transcribed, Signed by the Ward Clerk, and presented to the family of the late David Price, Esq.”

One may have expected David Price’s two sons to assume control of the business affairs on the death of their father, but sadly that was not to happen. The eldest son – John Price, died at Ramsgate, on the Kent coast, in the same year as his father, aged 38. According to the announcement in The Times newspaper on 11 September 1840 The cause of death was ” the rupture of a blood-vessel”

David and Sarah Price’s other son – Joseph Price – died in 1841, just before his 32nd birthday. Both the Price brothers were buried at St John, Hackney, presumably in the family grave.

Neither of the Price brothers had married, but there is a record aof a liaison between John Price and a certain Susannah Rosetta Whitcombe (abt 1805-1883), which produced a daughter named Susanna Clarissa Waddington Whitcombe (abt 1825 – 1882). After John’s death Susannah Rosetta Whitcombe married John Marshall Hostage (1889-1861). Susanna Clarissa Waddington Whitcombe later married Lacey Bathurst (b abt 1819). I have more information about this line of descent from David Price, which I shall be happy to share with you if you would like to contact me.

So what became of David & Sarah Price’s daughters?

Briefly, Elizabeth Price was born in 1808, and only lived for two months, while Sarah Esther Price died aged 19 in 1825, without marrying.

Mary Price (1804-1871) married a Welsh farmer named David Hughes (abt 1807-1852). They lived in Carmarthenshire and had a number of children.

Anne Price (1811-1898) married Rev William Hale (1810-1874). They lived in what is now the South London area, and had six children.

There is still much for us to find out about these families, but for the time being I am satisfied with the results of my research.